Faculty Development Fund

Approximately $75,000 is available to faculty members to apply for travel assistance to present at or attend conferences. Applications are accepted quarterly. Applications are submitted through a Lotus Notes Workspace application. Ask your department chair how to access the proper forms or contact the Office of the Provost.

Definition

Faculty development is defined as any activity that encourages faculty to acquire knowledge, skills, techniques, and attitudes to provide quality teaching and develop research/scholarly/creative activity and effective service at Fort Hays State University. Development is viewed as a process that is systematic and carefully planned. The plan is to be tailored to the individual and the individual’s contribution to the Department, the College, and the University.

Criteria

1. Proposals must be submitted online and will be initially screened based on the following criteria:

a) consistency with the faculty member’s or administrator’s individual faculty development plan (must be available for full consideration of the proposal);

f) extenuating need linked to travel, scarcity of the development activity and membership in departments/units with small OOE budgets;

g) effort by the applicant to seek external funding

h) monies provided by the department and/or college as an indication of chair/dean support;

i) other extenuating factors not necessarily defined in the proposal.

Procedures

1. Complete the application using the space provided and include all requested information. Pay special attention to the following:

a) If more than one individual is requesting support for the same activity, clearly indicate how costs will be shared.

b) Accuracy and completeness of application is considered. Be sure to include dates and location.

2. It is the responsibility of the faculty to forward the electronic application form through the approval process prior to the deadline. Applications must be in the Provost’s Office prior to travel.

3. There is a $1,000 limit* per person per year. This is cumulative over an academic year. Funds must be used within 12 months of date awarded. Funds not used within 12 months time period, will be returned to the faculty development fund.

4. Faculty Development applicants will not receive funding for the same development project twice.

5. No faculty proposal will be funded unless a current development plan has been approved by the faculty member, chair, and dean. If requested, the development plan must be available to the committee. Current is defined as developed within the last three years.

6. Applications from applicants on leave from the university will not be considered.

*Normally, adjunct faculty who have been employed for a three year period are eligible for up to $500 of faculty development funds.

Funding

The Faculty Development Committee will review applications twice per semester during the regular academic year. If approved, funding will be provided for a portion of the expenses. The deadline dates are September 20, November 1, February 1, and April 1. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or holiday, the applications are due the first working day after the weekend or holiday.